The Dickinson press., 1887-08-06
WILD GAME IN MONTANA.
ANTELOPE MAKING FRIENDS WITH
THE UNNAMED BEEF CATTLE.

THE UNNAMED BEEF CATTLE.
Their Association and Curious Fricnd-
ship for Ruffalo-A Case of Snow
Blindncss-A Simple Antidotc Which
Effects IL Total Transformation.
In crossing the northwest plains rs far
back rs 1919, 1850 and 1881, it was an every
day occurrence to run upon many herds of
buffalo, some of them so largo that it would
require all the way from one to three days to
pass through them. l remember such was
the case in the winter of 1915 while our COM
mand was chasing Sitting Bull and his myr-
midons toward the British border. Lining
the Red Water, and stretched out over u
broad cxpanse of country, was u tremendous
herd of bison that must have numbered close
on to 100000 head, for it took us nearly
seventy-two hours to pass through this mon
strous mass of living creatures. who made
little attempt to give us the right of way.
On this same expedition we would frequently
encounter some large bands of antelope,
something like punches of 1000 head, more
or less, but we always found it a difficult
matter to approach within reasonable shoot
ing distance of these gazelles of tho plains,
owing to their keenness of sight, acutcness
of smell, and nimbleneSs of foot. Once sighted
by antelope, it meant u shot ut 400 yards
and beyond, or not Mt all.
But now comes the remarkable discovery
/ made of tho habits of the antelope, and
which believe nre not put Town in any of
the books which toll us, and are supposed to
know, all about the ways, customs, aud
habits of this beautiful game animal. IS re-
marked, 800 yards was near for n shot if dis
covered, although 500 and 200 yards have
been gained by close creeping and crawling if
neither secuted nor seen. On the other hand,
buffalo might be approached almost with
IMMUNITY up to 22oO yards, but the ring of a
rifle brings OH Il big scare, when oil bound
the big fellows at Il 2:40 gait and are soon
lost to view i'll the distance and dust Of the
prairie. Now it happened while hunting
bison that l became aware of this fact, that
antelope associate with, browse in company
and keep Il sort of curious friendship with the
big unwicldy brutes. l Observed scattered
all through the buffalo herds numerous NOM
beers of the antelope family, and also that they
seemed to be bereft of fear When in such good
company, for very seldom did l observe them
take to their heels even when 1 rode down the
bison and scattered thom right and left. IN
one occasion after sending about 600 buffalo
scanlcrlng over the hills, | saw n dozen or sc
antelope who hung in the rear and on the
TANKS of the herd, seemingly loath to take to
their heels and seek safety in flight. l rode
up to one buck, actually approaching tc
within twenty-five yards of him, md shot the
fine fellow with my revolver.
ANTELOPE AMONG CATTLE.
Strange to say, the hills and valleys of
Montana this year show n greater mln,be of
antelope than at any time Since the season of
1881. The correspondent has been riding
over the south Yellowstone ranges-in about
two feet of snow, more or less-and in running
across numerous herds of cattle along the
Mizpoh, Pumpkin, Powder and Tongue
rivers, was surprised and astoniShcd to fine
scattered all through the cattle any number
of fine, fat antelope. Cows and antelope
We're grazing sido by side, OH the most init
mate and friendly terms, the former seeml-
lnsly as wild and unapproachable as tho lat
ter, and all enjoying themselves as only wild
animals can. Neither myself nor the friend
riding with me--wlo, by the way, was owner
of all the stock We had seen and passed
t~hroughsform iles-wasa able to approach closer
than a distance of 200 yards. Antelope and
steers stood us off that distance, and would
allow no closer acquaintance even from my
friend, who was master of all that beef
around him. Tho day was Il fine one, the
sun shining brightly, and rejecting from the
CLASSY, white clusted surface a glare of such
power and force that it caused my eye to
water, and also gavo mo much pain whenever
l attempted to concentrate my gaze on any
ono object. l was actually afflicted with
SHOW blindness, although totally unaware of
it at the time.
The truth was made apparent when my
friend, knowing that l Was q fair shot with
the rifle, invited ne to try my land at bring
ing down one of tho visiting antelope from
where he stood. confidently unstrlng my
Winchester, and after throwing n cartridge
into the chamber took q fine aim at the fore
head OF q magnificent buck, who was ~intently
watching ms from TIE short range of POO yards.
lcould SEQ the eyes of the animal plainly, but
when l attempted to glance along the sights
both the forehead and the rear motel, became
SO badly blurred that it was simply impossible
to draw an accurate aim. l lowered the
piece, and, for q few minutes. tho whole Dan.
orama spread ont before me became q dane
ing mirage, SO that l was unable to distiu-
age steers from antelope and ground from
the sky. Ny vision came back to mo in a
few minutes, but upon attempting the sight
lNS process AGAIN tnC Same lnulSllnCt blur
came over the sights and rendered an accu-
rate aim impossible. 1 tried it again and
again with the same result, and then ren,em-
bered Il pointer given me by an old plains
hunter some Years before, which was and is a
thorough and positive antidoto for snow
blindness.
ANTlDoTE FoR SNOW
Take u piece of burnt cork, or if that is not
handy, burn u match and char n little ,icce
of wood. Black the skin around and under
the eyes, and also the whole length of the
nose on each side, and also down the bridge
of the nasal organ. Armed with this little
precaution, no ono iced ever fear an attack
of snow blindness. My friend had a match,
and as for the cork-well, we had q bottle
between us, and a portion of the stopper was
quickly converted into charcoal. With this l
literally "smutted" my nose and ewes, and
then tried to SEQ if l could discern an antelope
across the sights with ordinary clearness.
1t was a total transformation. The animal
stood out i'll bold relief and tho motel, and
bead of the sights were as clear and distinct
rs even the most fastidious on such subjects
could desire. l blozed away at the same old
foolish buck, who was still gazing in q sort of
wondering admiration at us, and had the
satisfaction of dropping him at the first fire.
| We diOo6 off onta1opa ctool, +bof ,;rL+ ,,l